One and Three, (new birds)

It’s been a few days since I posted a new group of species to my carbon free big year, so here goes. On the 24th I receive a call from a fellow “Carbon Free’er” who informed me that he had a few Ring-necked Ducks at his pond so I zipped over there on my trusty steed (bike) and to my dismay they had departed. So, you can imagine my delight when he called me back the next day to let me know that they were back. My second try was a success as two beautiful pair were just waiting for me! #144. Later that evening while locking up my gallery a group of 5 or 6 medium sized bats came shooting out of the barn next to my shop. While I am not sure what species they were, they were certainly a new mammal for the year and so I will simply call them a “Free-tailed Bat, (species)”. Mammal #7!

Today I wanted to try something a little different. I was told about 4 Snowy Plovers that were hanging out in the dunes on Sea Drift, the long peninsula of Stinson Beach. So, I kayaked across the mouth of the Bolinas Lagoon against the very strong and just a little bit scary current on the incoming tide. I ditched the craft high on the spit as I knew that the tide would be unforgiving to a poorly placed boat and I would be left to swim back home or to walk about 9 miles (if I wanted to stay dry). I walked to the beach only to realize that there was no beach! The tide was so high and the surf was pounding against the rocks so there was simply no way of getting down the 2 mile long spit. Change of plans! I was going to be meeting my bride for breakfast at The Parkside Cafe in Stinson and so was determined to get there. I headed to the “inland” side of Sea Drift and hoofed it south, (it’s actually south east). Once I got opposite of Stinson Gulch I checked the oaks that typically have Band-tailed Pigeons in them and sure enough there were about 6 perched here and there. #145!. I was so happy to get this “gimmie” species under my belt. Not more than a few moments later I found myself pishing (the act of blowing air through pursed lips and clenched teeth to create a “pishing” sound that birds really seem to be attracted to) into someones yard to see what I could see when a House Wren came in to give me the once over. That was not what I was expecting to see pop up but there it was. This is never an easy bird to lock down in these parts so I was smiling as I met Patricia for breakfast. #146! After a hearty “Parkside Special” we parted and I headed back for my long walk to my Kayak. Shortly after leaving the restaurant, I glanced skyward to see not one, not two but 13 White-throated Swifts zipping hither and yonder over the hillside homes. # 147! This unexpected gift was all I needed to put a spring in my step as I made my way home and to work. A great morning.

# 143, “N” it’s a good one!

After much searching and no luck adding any new species I lucked out yesterday when an Eastern Phoebe flew by me while on my bike. The bird lit on a hilltop and very back lit bush and teased me to jump a fence and scale a steep hill to put a confirmed name on this bird. It was in fact an Eastern Phoebe and I was able to get some nice video of it before it flew over a cliff and away. While I was watching the Flycatcher a group of 5 Mule Deer were watching me, which were a new Mammal for the Carbon Free Big Year. Right after the Flycatcher split, two Common Mergansers flew over head and passed within sight of the Gallery. Had I been at the gallery, I would have added a new species to my list there. I was glad that I was where I was!

One More, (Mammal)

Yesterday I added no new birds but did get a Sonoma Chimpmink.

Carbon Free Big Year update, 1/15/10, Two more!

Although it is becoming much more difficult to find new species I did manage to see two new ones today. The first one was kind of funny. While I was getting my morning cup of “go juice” at the coffee stand in front of the Coast Cafe and not long after first light, I spotted an adult Bald Eagle and was actually able to show it to several of the folks that were standing around. The bird was high and far out over the lagoon. After, I headed to the view at Brighton to look for seabirds but didn’t add anything new. It has gotten to the point where I really have to go for any individual species when I know that it is “available”. Case in point. I got a call late this afternoon from a friend Jeff Miller who was phoning me from Pine Gulch Creek where he had just found a Northern Waterthrush! I jumped on my bike and got there quickly. Unfortunately, I didn’t see or hear the Warbler but Jeff casually mentioned that he had just seen 4 Hooded and 2 Common Mergansers out at the mouth of the creek. Well, that was all I needed to know! With only a touch of light left, I hustled through the trees and out the creek to look out on the lagoon. I swear to you that the first bird I saw was a male Common Merganser with several hundred other ducks. BAM! There it was, #142. In addition two Grey Fox walked next to us while we were waiting for the Waterthrush.  Good day.

A nice bump!

Today I continued to search high and low for additional species for my Carbon Free Big Year. Since I haven’t ventured any further than Stinson Beach and Bolinas, the birds are getting much harder to find. Today I did well. I headed out early and Looked for American Pipits at the pumpkin field but no luck. I headed back to the yard where I found the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and it was still there, so I tried to get some more video. After that, I rode a few hundred yards where the road looks out over a marsh on the edge of the lagoon and decided to clap for rails. I did and it worked! My first Virginia Rail called back. Next around the corner and up the road, I found a sunny spot where the pines were alive with numerous song birds which included several Golden-crowned Kinglets and my first Brown Creeper! Finally! There are not many “gimmys” left and the Creeper was one of them. I looked around the north end of the lagoon and then headed home for breakfast, stopping again in the pumpkin field for a look. Just as I was about to pack it in, very far off in the distance I saw 4 birds coming in off of the lagoon and sure enough Pipits! I was very pleased as they aren’t the most common bird in this area. Later in the afternoon while scanning the lagoon from our deck, I finally caught up with the female White-winged Scoter that has been wintering on the lagoon. Four new ones today leaving me with the total of 140 species

Tres Mas

Wow! I woke up with a strong storm pounding away at the coast, the lagoon and our house! While it was very windy, it was not raining. The tide was very high and had forced Gulls and many Shorebirds up an onto the tip of Sea Drift spit. After breakfast I headed out and down to the end of Wharf Road at the mouth of the Bolinas Lagoon. There I was happy to discover amongst the hundreds of Dunlin, Sanderling and Least Sandpipers at least 3 Western Sandpipers that were doing their best to stay in on spot. They weren’t achieving stability as the high waves and strong gusts of wind saw to that. # 134! A few hundred feet further in the lagoon was a surprisingly large group of perhaps 50 Brown Pelicans that were framed by a hundred or so large gulls. Amongst the Western, Glacous-winged, California, Ring-billed, Mew and the one or two Herring Gulls was a fine first cycle Thayer’s Gull that stood out from all others by the beautiful checkering of the wings and the upper parts and the delicate bill and gentle expression. This “kind” look is created by the rounded forehead, the dark “calm” eye and tiny bill. # 135! After peddling up and onto the big mesa, I poked around the Sewage Ponds where I encountered 7 Black-crowned Night Herons, a flotation of Lesser Scaup and numerous other Duck species.  Next it was neighborhood birding with a White-throated Sparrow, crazy flocks of Sparrows, Pygmy Nuthatches and numerous other typical back yard birds. After that I made my way to the fields next to the Fire Department where I finally caught up with at least 3 Tricolored Blackbirds mixed in with a large flock of Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds and Starlings. YES! # 136. In the distance eying the activity was a beautiful adult Peregrine Falcon. After that it was off to work to work on my Towhee plate for my Sierra Field Guide.

Yet another!

This will be a quick one. I added a Cedar Waxwing to the big year when a single bird, (mixed in with 80+ American Robins) flew over my gallery in downtown Bolinas this morning. That addition brings me to 133 species.

UPDATE-A few new birds to add for the Carbon Free Big Year.

While the high rate of additions to the big year has lessened there have been a few birds to add. On Jan. 8th, after not adding any birds in a day I headed home from my gallery, disheartened as this would be my first day without an addition. I was very happy to hear a sound that split the darkness, Barn Owl! That brought me to 130 species. Jan. 9th was my first day without a new bird so I thought that I would pick it up a bit. I headed out to the mouth of Pine Gulch Creek where I was pleased to hear, see and video tape a pair of Winter Wrens. Shortly after, while getting my feet wet from the high tide, I slogged out to find the beautiful Swamp Sparrow that I had been keeping my eyes on late last year. I was so happy! Two other birds that were a joy to see were 4 female Hooded Mergansers and a male Eurasian Wigeon. My year now stands at 132.

“Getting up the hill” New additions to the Carbon Free Big Year.

Today found me with two new species to my carbon free big year. I headed out to Duxbury Reef to work on my sea birds and I was rewarded with Pacific Loon and Common Murre. There was a very large flock of about 3500 birds in a very large feeding flock composed of Brandt’ and Pelagic Cormorants, Common Murre and very large numbers of Pacific Loons and fewer Red-throated and still fewer Common Loons. Also the flock hosted many Western and Glacous-winged Gulls and Brown Pelicans. I am now at 129 species since Jan. 1st.

Recent bird additions to my Carbon Free Big Year, Jan. 4th-6th 2010

I have added several species to my Carbon Free Big Year in the last three days. On Jan. 4th I added Western Bluebird while taking a walk with my bride in Bolinas. On the 5th, I birded the Bolinas mesa taking in the Sewage Ponds, various neighborhoods and a peek out to sea to work on some of my rocky shorebirds and pelagics. Starting out, I discovered 12 Lesser Scaup and an immature Snow Goose at the Sewage Ponds. This Goose has been around town for the last few weeks and so I was delighted to finally catch up with it. Interestingly, I located an additional Snow Goose, (this time an adult) at “The Pumpkin Field” on the road into town. After the ponds, I encountered and added a Golden-crowned Kinglet near Aggate Beach. Crowning the cliff above Duxbury Reef, I was happy to add Brandt’s Cormorant, 2 Black Oystercatchers and a noisy flock of Black Turnstones. I headed back home and on the way stopped at a friends yard who in the past plated host to a Eurasian Goldfinch. While the Eurasian Goldfinch departed several years ago, I was pleased to see a female Lesser Goldfinch with all of the American Goldfinches that were “hanging out” on her thistle feeder. Not long after that, I finally caught up with a beautiful Lincoln’s Sparrow, one of my all time favorite birds. Later that day, while taking lunch to my wife, (on my bike of course) I stopped again at the Pumpkin field where I encountered a rather large flock of some 25 Wilson’s Snipe. That ended my day with 9 new additions. Today, Jan.6th I attempted to locate a Short-eared Owl that has been seen a couple of times out on Kent Island, which is located in the middle of the Bolinas Lagoon. I didn’t have any luck with the Owl but did manage to add a Nuttall’s Woodpecker as well as a soaring Sharp shinned Hawk leaving me with a total of 127 species.